It would incorporate lessons learned from the 2014 Everglades Challenge that Jeff (aka "TwoBeers") and Jahn Tihansky ("Morsailesed") finished in a highly modified Flying Scot ("Frankenscot").
Based on their experiences, the team knew that an ideal expedition boat would need to be speedy, relatively stable, lightweight, self-rescuing (that is, if it flips, the sailing team can re-right and drain the boat without assistance), light-weight, and able to traverse shallow waters. A few months of hard work (and a few months of fallow time), and poof! It's a boat. A boat named "Spawn." A 22-foot long sloop, with a sliding rowing seat and a centerboard, Spawn's chockablock with upcycled parts: a used Melges-20 carbon-fiber mast, twin rudders from a Hobie 16, a narwhale-like bowsprit fabricated from a Captiva mast, Frankenscot's old shaped centerboard, a massive carbon-fiber boom constructed from an A-cat mast that met with an unfortunate accident, big wide hiking racks made of aluminum tubing, borrowed oars. On-the-water testing started in December. A generous crew of supporters, speed testers, and assorted Igors helped launch and bless the boat and then chase it around. The Spawn was flipped and righted and the team tested the roller-furling jib and the reefing system for the main, popped various 'chutes while the Igors gave chase with cameras. The racing team –– TwoBeers, Morsailesed, and Ninjee (O.H. Rodgers will be the third Spawnster) –– planned to do some overnight dry-runs.
6 Comments
George A.
2/17/2016 02:00:11 pm
Time is a great enemy.
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Amy
2/18/2016 02:41:45 pm
Truer words have rarely been typed.
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Greg
2/17/2016 09:48:08 pm
Looking forward to the race. i'll miss yall this weekend.
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Amy
2/18/2016 02:42:32 pm
Nooooooo! Say it ain't so! Not Mothing?!
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HHN92
2/20/2016 12:35:26 pm
Planning to be down there for the start, is anybody shooting video? I would like to, will a boat follow them for a while or is that permissible? Give me a shout.
Reply
Amy
2/22/2016 05:49:05 pm
Hey HH --
Reply
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